Wire bound package



Feb. 3, 1942. G, RlDGE WIRE BOUND PACKAGE Filed April 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3, 1942. G. RIDGE WIRE BOUND PACKAGE Filed April 29, 1938 s sheets-sheet 2 WM @d Feb. 3, 1942. G. RIDGE 2,272,020

WIRE BOUND PACKAGE Filed April 29, 1938 3 Sheetsl-Sheet I5 f z g. Z5

GUY H0065 Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of wooden receptacles, and particularly to containers such as crates, boxes and the like of the external Wire bound collapsible type. Such packages are polygonal and comprise transversely cleated wall sections serially connected in foldable relation by endless flexible binders arranged in the zones of the cleats. They are generally furnished to the trade in collapsed form and may repeatedly be expanded and collapsed without disconnecting the endless binders. When expanded, the wall sections arel adapted for ready association with end sections to complete a package.

The assembled wall sections are customarily produced as blanks laid out on specially designed machines which apply wall slats to the cleats and also attach the flexible binders. Upon issuing from the machine a requisite number of the serially connected sections of the blank are doubled upon themselves as fiat superposed pairs and the adjacent free ends of the binders are firmly joined together to produce a folded blank which may be unfolded or expanded to set up form without disconnecting and reconnecting the binders.

It is well known to the art that the production of blanks and packages as above described involves problems differing widely from those problems encountered in the production of box blanks serially connected in foldable relation by flexible binders which have their free ends connected after the Wall sections are set up in box form. The latter class of structures may not be collapsed and reexpanded and are not intended to be so used. A typical example of the latter class is the structure disclosed in Watkins Patent No. 1,965,871 of July 10, 1934.

The present invention deals with externally wire bound collapsible crates, boxes or the like, having a blank factory assembled in folded form and comprising at least two pairs ofrcleated wall sections arranged in abutting parallel relation with the component sections of each pair lying in a common plane distinctive to that pair; all sectionsA being serially connected by endless flexible binding Wires, or their equivalent, in such manner that the blank may be unfolded or expanded to bring the wall sections into proper angular relationship for service engagement with end sections without separating or disconnecting the endless binders.

In such structures the adjacent ends of the wall section cleats are mutually engaged as the blank is expanded to unfolded form andas the relative positions of the joints change through an unfolding or folding cycle while the length of the binders remains constant there must be provision at the corner joints to accommodate the binding Wire in al1 positions of the joints. The prior art has sought to accomplish this invarious ways perhaps best typiiied in the patents to Gardner, No. 2,039,273- of April 28, 1936; Gardner, No. 2,087,025 of July 13, 1937; and Henderson, No. 2,042,339. The Gardner patents require specially designed joints at the non-beveled corners, which increases production cost, and at the beveled corners the overlying binding wires have to be provided with outstanding projecting kinks to accommodate the bend. Such kinksrequire more wire than if laid flat and they impair the stacking qualities of the blanks. If they become deformed it becomes diiiicult to unfold the blank. In crates of the Henderson type the wire is applied after the blank sections are placed together, and it is arranged for sliding movement loosely over the sections of the blank. This manner of assembling entails additional labor, slows production, and increases production costs. Additionally, it places the binding wires under tension when the blank is unfolded.

An object of the present invention is to provide a factory assembled wire bound crate or the like having a blank comprised of wall sections connected by endless binders fixedly secured to the respective sections without joint kinks and which may readily be expanded to unfolded form without dislocation or disconnection of the binders and without placing same under tension.

Another object is to provide, in such a structure, a novel arrangement of Wall section cleat joints and flexible endless binders in which the binders flex in the axis of fold at each joint in an unfolding or folding operation, which axes remain constant with respect to the adjacent wall sections.

A further object is to provide a novel construction of an externally wire bound crate or the like having transversely cleated wall sections hingedly connected by exible endless binders which interlock the cleat end joints of diagonally opposite pairs against relative lateral or longitudinal movement with respect to the crate enclosure.

Other objects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled crate as constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom end elevation of the collapsed or folded blank comprising the crate wall sections as factory assembled.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the blank of Figure 2 in the zone of the end binding wire shown in that figure.

Figure 4 is an end view of the blank at an intermediate stage of folding or unfolding.

Figure 5 is a transverse section, taken in the plane of Figure 3, showing the blank in completely unfolded or expanded form. Y

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alterna-y tive embodiment of crate as assembled.

Figure 7 is a bottom end elevation of the collapsed or folded blank comprising .the wall sections of the crate shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a transverse section through the blank of Figure 7. in the zone of the end binding wire shown in that figure.

Figure 9 is an end view of the blank of Figure 7 at an intermediate stage of folding or unfolding.

Figure 10 is a transverse section, taken in the plane of Figure 8, showing the blank in completely unfolded or expanded form.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of crate as assembled.

Figure 12 is a bottom end elevation of the collapsed or folded blank comprising the Wall sections of the crate shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a transverse section through the blank of Figure 12 in the zone of the end binding wire shown in that figure.

Figure 14 is an end view of the blank of Figure 12 at an intermediate stage of folding or unfolding.

Figure 15 is a transverse section, taken in the plane of Figure 12, showing the blank in completely unfolded or expanded form.

All forms of crates herein illustrated are of openwork slatted wall construction particularly adapted to encase for shipment bulky machine apparatus and parts, and specifically domestic washing machines. In crating such apparatus care must be taken that there are'no sharp edged projections at the joints of the wall sections. nor protruding barbs at the binding wire end connections, and all corner joints must be secured against relative movement laterally or longitudinally of the enclosure. Sharp edged projections and wire barbs are potential sources of injury, and looseness of corner joints gives rise to the easy possibility of breakage of the wall sections and binding wires with consequent damage to the crate contents.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 the crate is of rectangular form, comprising four wall sections A, B, C and D having internal intermediate cleats I6, I1, I8 and I9 respectively and end cleats 20, 2l, 22 and 23, each section being made up of a plurality of slats secured externally to the cleats, preferably by the same securing elements, here shown as staples, by which the flexible endless binders 24 are tightly fastened to the slats overlying each cleat and thus to the wall sections.

It is also preferred that the slats of each wall section be four in number with the two intermediate slats crossed at the middle cleat and the side edge slats arranged in parallel relation longitudinally of the wall. The binders 24 are preferably formed from lengths of baling wire, a1-

though metallic bands or straps may be employed in lieu thereof.

At each end the cleats are squared and reversely shiplapped, and in the process of making up the blank the cleats are arranged in three parallel properly spaced rows with the cleats of each .row in a longitudinally aligned series with the horn of each lap aligned with the heel of the adjacent lap of a succeeding cleat and with the cleat ends spaced apart sufficiently to provide against overlapping of the respective horns, as best seen in .Figure 2. As the cleats travel through the machine, the details of which are not shown, the wall slats are applied and the binding wires 24 are suitably fed flatly over the slat ends and intermediate portions, and underlying cleats, in the longitudinal center lines of the cleats; the wholebeing secured together by staples applied over the wires and driven through the slats into the cleats. In assembling the slats and binding wires the wall sections are grouped as pairs, as, for example, the sections A, B, in one group and the sections C, D, in the succeeding group, with the contiguous side edge slats at the adjacent cleat ends of each pair flush with the ends of the cleats and the side edge slats at the opposite ends of the cleats spaced inwardly from the ends a distance twice the thickness of the cleat plus the width of the slat. At these latter ends the binding wires are somewhat extended and are cut beyond the ends of the cleats.

In consequence the blank is delivered from the machine in two halves; the sections A and B comprising one and the sections C and D comprising the other. The two sections of each half are connected by the binding wires in a. loose hinged relationship so that they may be swung into perpendicular engagement on an axis of fold F coincident with and perpendicular to the wires 24 midway between the adjacent spaced cleat ends, bringing the heel of each lap into ilat abutting engagement against'the inner side of the horn on the other lap.

For convenience of description, and particularly with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the cleat ends farthest removed from the axes of fold F will be referred to as the outer ends while those closest will be termed the inner ends. Likewise, in referring to the unfolding ofthe blank, the joints at the fold axes F will be termed collapse joints and the others will be designated as expansion joints.

At the outer ends of the cleats on the wall sections A and B the lap heels 25 are at right angles to the sides of the cleats and the horns 26 extend beyond the heels a distance equal to the thickness of the cleat; all cleats being of equal thickness. In like manner on the sections C and D at the outer ends of the cleats the lap heels 2l are at right angles to the cleat sides and the lap horns 28 extend beyond the heels a distance equal to the width of the cleat. The same relative arrangement holds true for the heels 29 and horns 30 on the inner end laps of the cleats on sections A and B and the heels 3l and horns 32 on the inner end laps of the sections C and D.

The outer end of each cleat on the wall sections A and B is provided with a wire receiving slot 33 opening inwardly from the end in the longitudinal center line of the cleat and having its bottom inclined at an angle of 45 or more with respect to the plane of the inner side face ofthe cleat and directed inwardly of the cleat from its inner to its outer side face. Similar slots 34 are provided in the outer ends of the cleats on the Wall sections C and D.

The bottom of each slot terminates in the outer side face of its cleat in advance of the adjacent side edge slat of the wall section a distance equal to the thickness of the slat, and in the inner side face of the cleat the slot bottom terminates in the transverse plane of the lap heel.

When assembling the folded blank the two halves are associated as shown in Figure 2 with the outer cleat ends registering, and with the bottoms of their slots 33 and 34 intersecting in the meeting plane of the inner side faces of the cleats. The free ends of the binding wires 24, which on one half of the blank are longer than on the other, are then drawn snugly into the slots to lie atly on the slot bottoms, being bent around the apex point F' at the intersection of the bottoms of the slots. The adjacent loose ends of the wires are then tightly connected by twists 35 which are bent over and housed in the adjacent slots so that no projecting barbs remain exposed.

The apex points F' constitute the axes of fold for the two expansion joints of the blank. It will be evident from an inspection of Figures 3 and 5 that at these expansion joints the binding wires intersect the fold axes. each of which is located at the point of intersection of the planes of they inner side faces of the cleats when the blank is fully unfolded or expanded.

When the blank is to be used it is unfolded from its flat folded form simply by pulling apart the two contraction joints, whereupon the blank moves through the intermediate stage illustrated in Figure 4 to the final expanded stage shown in Figure 5. In this operation the binding wires bend at the fold axes F and F'. As the linear distance between the points F and F', denoted on the line z-x of Figure 3, does not vary with the movement of the wall sections the length of the binding wire between these respective points does not change, and the wire is neither slackened nor placed under tension. It merely tlexes at each axis of fold F or F', and as these axes intersect the wire the bend occurs without slacking or tensioning the wire in any respect.

When the blank is fully expanded the wall sections are brought into perpendicular relationship to assume a rectangular form with the contraction joints at one pair of diagonally opposite corners and the expansion joints at the other diagcnally opposite pair, with all cleat ends en? gaged by shiplapped joints at all four corners of the enclosure. The engagement of the binding wires Within the cleat end slots serves effectively to interlock the joints against separating movement. s

It is customary practice when using crates of the general type herein disclosed to anchor the article to be crated securely on the support S which serves as the crate bottom and over which the expanded blank comprising the wall sections is engaged, after which the other end section comprising a top T is placed in position and secured. The top and bottom sections are internally cleated to provide the necessary'end bracing for the side Walls and to anchor the nails 01 other securing elements by which the walls and end sections are secured together.

Figures 6 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of crate, also of rectangular form and comprising four wall sections G, H, J and K having respectively the internal intermediate cleats H6, ||8 and ||9 and end cleats |20, |2|, |22 and |23. Each wall section is composed of a plurality of slats secured externally to the cleats, preferably by the same securing elements, here shown as staples, by which the flexible binders |24 are tightly fastened to the slats overlying each cleat and thus to the wall sections.

As in the embodiment `previously described, the slats of each wall section are preferably four in number, with the two intermediate slats crossed at the middle cleat and the side edge slats arranged in parallel relation longitudinalLv of the wall. The endless flexible binders |24 are fonned from lengths of baling wire, although metal straps or bands may be employed.

The cleats are squared andv reversely shiplapped at their ends, and in the process of making up the blank they are disposed in three properly spaced parallel rows, the cleats of each row being in a longitudinally aligned series in which the horn of each lap is aligned with the heel of the next adjacent lap. Unlike the previously described embodiment, the blank sections G, H, J and K are passed through the machine in a single group with the section G in the lead and followed serially by the sections H, J and K. The cleat ends are spaced apart so that there is no overlapping of the horns and the horn of each lap, except at the joint between the intermediate sections H and J, extends beyond its heel a distance equal to the width of the cleat; all cleats being of equal width. At the middle joint, between the sections H and J, the horns are shorter, being squared off slightly beyond their heels.

As thecleats travel through the assembling machine the slats are applied and the binding wires |24 are suitably fed flatly over the slats and underlying cleats in the longitudinal center line ofthe cleats; the whole being secured together by staples applied over the wires and drlventhrough the slats into the cleats. In the course of assembling the adjacent side edge slats of the two leading sections G and H- are disposed with their edges flush with the subjacent cleat ends, and a similar disposition is made with respect to the two trailing sections Jv and K. At the leading cleat ends of the first section G, and at the trailing cleat ends of the last'section K, the side edge slats arespaeed inwardly of the cleat ends a distance approximately equal to the width of each slat. The binding wires are extended appreciably forwardly of the leading cleat ends of the first section and are cut slightly behind the trailing cleat ends of the last section. The blank is delivered from the machine with the four sections connected in a loose hinged relationship by the binding wires in such manner that they may be doubled upon themselves into the flat folded form shown in Figures 7 and 8. Between the sections G and H and between the sections J and K the joints are capable of a contracting fold on the axes F which, as in the previously described embodiment, intersect the binding wires midway between the subjacent cleat ends.

For convenience of descriptie and particularly with respect to the folded blank as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the cleat ends farthest from the axes of fold F will be referred to as the outer ends while those closest will be termed the inner ends. In like manner the joints at the fold axes F will be designated as contraction joints and the others as expansion joints.

At the outer end cf the cleats on the wall sections G and H the lap heels are at right angles to the sides of the cleats. Also, the horns |26 of the cleats on the section G are equal in length to the width of their cleats. However, at the outer end of the cleats on the section H the horns |25' have a length less than the width of their cleats as previously stated. In like manner the lap heels |21 at the outer ends of the cleats on the sections J and K are at right angles to the cleat sides; the horns |28 oi' the cleats on the section K being equal in length to the width of their cleats, and the horns |28 at the outer ends of the cleats on the section J being less in' length than the width of theircleats. At the inner ends of the cleats on the sections H and G the lap heels |29 are at right angles to the cleat sides and the horns |30 are equal in length to the width of their cleats. The same relative arrangement is true of the heels |3| and horns |32 on the inner end cleat laps of the wall sections J and K. I

The outer end of each cleat on the wall sections G andH is provided with a wire receiving slot |33 opening inwardly from the cleat end in its longitudinal center line and having its bottom inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to the plane of the inner side face of the cleat and directed inwardly of the cleat from its inner to its outer side face. Similar slots |34 are provided in the outer ends of the cleats on the wall sections J and K.

The bottom of each slot terminates in the outer side face of its cleat in advance of the adjacent side edge slat a distance equal to the thickness of the slat, and in the inner side face of the cleat the slot bottom terminates in the transverse plane of the lap heel.

When assembling the blank the wall sections are doubled upon themselves as seen in Figures '1 and 8 with the outer cleat ends registering, and with the bottoms of their slots |33 and |34 intersecting in the meeting plane of the abutting inner side faces of the cleats. The pairs of sections fold on the axis F of the middle joint, which lies between the sections H and J. This axis intersects the wires and the wires thus bend around the apex point formed at the intersection of the cleat slot bottoms. At the other end of the blank the free longer end of the binding wire at each cleat is drawn snugly through the cleat slots and bent around the other fold axis F' to lie at on the slot bottoms. The ends are then securely tied by twisting as at |35 and the twists are bent over and housed within the adjacent slots so that no barbs remain exposed.

As in the embodiment previously described, the points F constitute the axes of fold for the two expansion joints of the blank, which axes are located at the points of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of the cleats when the blank is fully expanded.

When the blank is to be used it is expanded simply by pulling apart the two contraction joints, whereupon the blank moves through the intermediate stage illustrated in Figure 9 to the nal expanded stage shown in Figure 10. In this operation the binding wires bend at the fold axes F and F' and as the linear distance between the respective points F and F does not vary during' movement of the `Jvall sections the length of the binding wire between these points remains unchanged, so that the wire is neither slackened nor tensioned.

When the blank is fully expanded the wall sections -are disposed in perpendicular relationship and assume a rectangular form, with the contraction joints at one diagonally oppositeV pair of the corner joints and the expansion joints at the other diagonally opposite pair. All cleat ends are engaged by ship-lapped joints at all four corners of the crate, and the joints are interlocked by the engagement of the wires within the cleat end slots. The expanded blank may then be associated with the end sections S and T as in the manner of the previously described embodiment.

A further alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 11 to 15. The crate therein illustrated is also of rectangular form, comprising four wall sections L, M, N and having respectively the internal cleats 2|6, 2||, 2|8 and 2 9 at their mid-portions and having the end cleats 220, 22|, 222 and 223. This crate also has its wall sections composed of a plurality of slats secured externally to the cleats, preferably by the same securing staples by which the endless ilexible binding wires 224 are tightly fastened to the slats overlying each cleat and thus to the wall sections. The slats of each section are preferably four in number, with the two intermediate slats crossed over the middle cleat and the two side edge slats disposed in parallel relation, as in the preceding forms.

In this embodiment the cleat ends are inwardly beveled in such manner that when the blank is expanded to rectangular form all four corners will have miter joints. The cleats are arranged in three spaced parallel rows, each row comprising a longitudinal series in which the adjacent cleat ends are spaced slightly apart, and while passing through the assembling machine the wall slats are applied and the binding wires are laid atly over the slats and underlying cleats at the trailing ends of the last section O are extended beyond the subjacent cleat tips, those at one end being longer than at the other.

The cleats of the intermediate sections M and N at their adjacent dubbed ofi ends are provided respectively with wire receiving slots 225 and 226 opening inwardly from each cleat end and having their bottoms inclined at an angle of 45 or more with respect to the plane of the inner side face of their cleat, the bottoms of the slots being directed inwardly of each cleat from its inner to its outer side face. The bottom of each slot 225 and 226 terminates in the outer side face of its cleat in advance of the adjacent side edge slat a distance equal to the thickness of the slat; the

side edge slats at these points being disposed inwardly from the cleat ends a distance approximately equal to the width of a slat. All other side edge slats on the various sections are disposed fiush with the cleat ends.

The blank is delivered from the assembling machine with the four wall sections connected in a loose hinged relationship by the binding wires and in such manner that they may be doubled upon themselves into the ilat folded form shown in Figure 12 as pairs which fold at the middle joint on the axis of fold F' between the sections M and N. The binding wires intersect this axis and thus bend at the apex point formed by the intersection of the cleat slot bottoms in the meeting plane of the abutting inner side faces of the cleats.`

At the other end of the folded blank, comprised by the leading ends of the cleats on wall section L and the trailing ends of the cleats on wall section O, the respective cleats and overlying side edgeslats are provided with registering boresZZl and 228 respectively which extend transversely through the cleats at right angles to their parallel inner and outer side faces, the bores meeting in axial registry at the point F' on which the planes of the cleat and bevels converge and intersect. These bores are of sufiicient diameter to receive therethrough a portion of the adjacent long free end'of the binding wire. In assembling the blank the free long ends of the binding wires are threaded through the registering bores and then joined to the remaining free ends by twists 229 which are bent flatly over against the adjacent side edge slat.

When the blank is expanded the respective wall sections L-M and N-O hinge on the axes of fold F which intersect the binding wires, with the axes moving apart. -As the linear distance between the respective points F and F' does not vary with movement of the wall sections, and as th'e length of the binding wire between these points does not change, the wire merely .bends in the f axes of fold and is neither slackened nor ten sioned. At each of the axes' of fold F of the expanslon joints the binding wire intersects the axis, which axis is located at the point of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of the cleats as positioned when the blank is fully expanded.

It is a feature of the present invention that in all embodiments the axis of fold at the expansion joints remains constant at that point on which the planes of the inner side faces of the joint cleats intersect when the blank is fully expanded to set-up form, and the axis of fold at each contraction joint remains constant at a point which lies in the common plane of the binding wires of the adjacent wall sections when the blank is fully folded or collapsed, or, expressed in another manner, the expansion joints fold and unfold on a pivotal axis lying in the inner perimeter of the walls bounding the enclosure while the contraction joints fold and unfold on a pivotal axis lying in the outer perimeter of the walls; and that the endless flexible binders bend in these axes during movement of the wall sections.

Although the illustrated embodiments only internally cleated open slatted Wall sections, it is to be understood that the principles of th'e invention are applicable to other types of wall construction and that the cleats may be externally located if so desired.

I claim:

l. A foldable receptacle blank comprising a plurality of Wall sections, endless flexible binders attached to said sections and connecting same in mutually hinged relation, and said binders intersecting the axes of fold between the sections in all positions thereof.

2. A foldable receptacle blank comprising a plurality of wall sections, endless flexible binders ixedly attached to said sections and connecting same in mutually hinged relation, certain of said sections being foldable on axes located in the outer perimeter thereof, others of said sections being foldable on axes located in the inner perimeter thereof, and said binders intersecting said axes disclose of fold between the respective sections in all positions thereof.

3. A foldable receptacle blank comprising a. plurality of wall sections having cleats arranged to abut at their ends in angled relation when the blank is unfolded, endless flexible binders xedly attached to said sections in the zones ofl said cleats, certain of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis which remains constant at the point of intersection of the planes of the inner faces of said cleats when the blank is fully unfolded, the others of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis which remains constant at the point of intersection of the outer face planes of the sections when fully unfolded, and said endless binders being free from tension in all positions assumed by said wall sections in folding and unfolding.

4.' A foldable receptacle blank comprising a. plurality of wall sections having cleats arranged to abut in angled relation at their ends when the blank is fully unfolded, endless flexible binders fixedly attached to 'said sections in the zones of said cleats, certain of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis which remains constant at th'e point of intersection of the planes of the inner faces of theircleats when the blank is fully unfolded, th'eothers of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis which remains constant at the point of intersection of the planes ofthe outer faces ofsaid sections when the blank is fully unfolded,said endless binders intersecting said axes of fold, and said binders being free from tension in all positions assumed by th'e wall sections in folding and unfolding.

5. AA foldable receptacle blank comprising a. plurality of wall sections having cleats arranged to abut at th'eir ends in angled relation when the blank is fully unfolded, endless flexible binders iixedly attached to said sections in the zones of said cleats, certain of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis which remains constant at the point of intersection of the planes of the innerfaces of their cleats when the blank is fully unfolded, their abutting cleat end portions being provided with apertures through which said endless binders are received in such manner as to intersect said constant axis of fold, the others of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis located at the point of intersection of th'e planes of the outer faces of said sections when the blank is fully unfolded, and the endless binders b'eing' free from tension in all positions assumed by the wall sections in folding and unfolding.

6. A foldable receptacle blank comprising a plurality of wall sections having cleats arranged to abut at their ends in angled relation when the blank is fully unfolded, endless flexible binders xedly attached to said sections in the zones of said cleats, certain of said sections being mutually foldable on an axis which remains constant at th'e point of intersection of the planes of the inner faces of their cleats when the blank is fully unfolded, th'eir abutting cleat ends having binder receiving slots with fiat inclined bottoms intersecting said fold axis, the endless binders being disposed in said slots, the others of said wall sections being mutually foldable on an axis located at the point of intersection of the planes of the outer faces of said sections when the blank is fully unfolded, and said endless binders being free from tension in all positions 'assumed by the Wall sections in folding and unfolding.

7. In a wire bound crate, a plurality of Wall sections having transverse cleats on one face, endless binding wires attached fixedly to the other face of each section longitudinally over 'said cleats, said cleats having shiplapped ends interengageable when the wall sections are disposed in angled relationship, certain of said shiplapped cleat ends being formed with end openings slots extending from their inner to their outer side faces with their bottoms inclined inwardly of the cleats and snugly receiving said binding wires, said slot bottoms, when the wall sections are angled in service position, substantially registering in a plane intersecting the apex of the angle formed by the intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of said cleats, and said binding wires connecting all said wall sections in mutually foldable relation and being free from tension in al1 positions of the wall sections.

8. In a wire bound crate, a plurality of Wall sections having transverse cleats on one face, endless binding wires attached fixedly to the other face of each section longitudinally over said vcleats and said cleats having their ends formed for abutting engagement in angled relation when the wall sections are disposed in service position, certain abutting pairs of said cleat ends being provided with bores through which said binding wires are passed and substantially perpendicular to the inner side faces of the cleats, said bores when the wall sections are in service position converging at the apex of the angle formed by the intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of the cleats, and said binding wires connecting the wall sections in mutually foldable relation and being free from tension in all positions of the Wall sections.

9. In a crate or the like, a wire bound blank comprising four wall sections provided with transverse interior cleats and connected in mutually foldable relation by exterior binding wires of endless form xedly attached to each wall section longitudinally over each cleat, the adjacent cleat ends at a pair of diagonally opposite corners being arranged for abutting engagement at right angles When the blank is expanded, the

wall sections at said corners being foldable on a pivotal axis located externally of the perimeter of the outer side faces of the cleats, the wall sections at the other corners being foldable on a pivotal axis located on the inner perimeter of the inner side faces of the cleats, and said binding Wires intersecting said axes of fold at right angles.

10. In a crate or the like, a Wire bound blank comprising four wall sections provided with transverse interior cleats and connected in mutually foldable relation by exterior binding Wires of endless form fixedly attached to each Wall section longitudinally over each cleat, the adjacent cleat ends at a pair of diagonally opposite corners being arranged for abutting engagement at right angles when the blank is expanded and the wall sections at said pair of corners being each foldable on a pivotal axis located externally of the perimeter of the outer side faces of said cleats, the adjacent cleat ends at the remaining corners being arranged for abutting engagement at right angles when the blank is expanded and the wall sections at said remaining corners being mutually foldable on a pivotal axis located on the inner perimeter of the inner side faces of the cleats, the cleat ends adjacent said last named pivotal axis being slotted to receive and dispose said binding wires across said axis.

11. A wire bound crate or the like comprising four wall sections mutually foldableat diagonally opposite corners and comprising each a plurality of slats disposed longitudinally of the section and secured to transverse cleats disposed on their inner faces. the ends of said cleats being formed with shiplapped joint portions interengageable to dispose the wall sections at right angles to one another, endless binding wires fixedly attached to the outer faces of the sections and longitudinally over the cleats, said wires connecting the wall sections in hinged relation and being invariable in length, said wires passing externally of the sections at a pair of diagonally opposite joints, the adjacent cleat ends at the remaining diagonally opposite pair of joints being provided with wire receiving slots having flat bottoms extending inwardly from their inner to their outer side faces at an angle of or more relative to the plane of the inner side face of the cleat, and said slot bottoms lying in planes which intersect coincident with the point of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of their cleats when the wall sections are in position.

12. A wire bound crate or the like comprising four wall sections mutually foldable at diagonally opposite corners and comprising each a plurality of slats disposed longitudinally of the section and secured to transverse cleats on their inner faces, the ends of said cleats being shiplapped for interengagement, endless binding wires connecting said wall sections in hinged relation and xedly attached to the outer faces of said sections longitudinally over said cleats, said wires being invariable as to length and passing externally of the sections at a pair of diagonally opposite joints, the adjacent cleat ends at the remaining diagonally opposite pair of joints being provided with slots opening to the cleat ends and housing said wires on their bottoms, the bottoms of said slots being disposed in planes which, when the wall sections are disposed at right angles to oneanother, intersect in coincidence with the point of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of said cleats.

13. A wire bound crate or the like comprising four wall sections mutually foldable at diagonally opposite corners and comprising each a plurality of slats disposed longitudinally of the section and secured to transverse cleats disposed on their inner faces, the ends of said cleats being beveled for abutting engagement at right angles, endless binding Wires xedly attached to the outer faces of said sections longitudinally over the cleats, said wires passing externally of the sections at one diagonally opposite pair of joints, the adjacent cleat ends at one corner joint of the remaining diagonally opposite pair being provided with registering slots opening to the cleat ends and housing said wires on their bottoms and the slot bottoms being disposed in mutually angled planes which intersect in coincidence with the point of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of the cleats, and the adjacent cleat ends at the other of said remaining diagonally opposite pair being provided with bores extending therethrough substantially at right angles to their inner and outer side faces, said binding wires being passed through said bores, and said bores lying in planes which intersect in coincidence with the point of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of said cleats.

14. In a wire bound crate or the like, an assembled and folded blank comprising four internally cleated wall sections superimposed as two at pairs with the component sections of each pair in a common plane parallel to the common plane of the other pair and with all cleats disposed inwardly and in contact throughout their inner side faces, the outer ends of said cleats registering with one another and being reversely shiplapped and having slots extending inwardly from their inner to their outer side faces at equal angles, the slot bottoms lying in planes which intersect at the junction of the lap heel and horns of their respective cleats, endless binding wires fixedly attached to the outer faces of said wall sections longitudinally over the cleats and seating on the slot bottoms, and said blank being expansible to unfolded form with the wall sections. at right angles without placing said bindilng Wires under tension.

l5. In a wire bound crate or the like, an assembled and folded blank comprising fourA internally cleated wall sections superimposed as two parallel flat pairs with the component sections of each pair in a common plane and with the outer ends of the cleats on the respective pairs registering with one another at the ends of the blank, endless binding wires flxedly attached to the sections longitudinally of the cleats and extending flatly between `the component sections of each pair, the outer ends of said cleats being provided with slots having flat bottoms inclined inwardly of the cleats at equal angles relative to the inner side faces of the cleats, said binding wires being disposed through said slots and bent around the apex formed by the convergence of the slot bottoms, and said slot bottoms converging at the point of intersection of the planes of the inner side faces of the cleats when the blank is unfolded to dispose the wall sections in right angled relation to one another.

16. In a wire bound crate or the like, an assembled and folded blank comprising four internally cleated wall sections superimposed as two parallel at pairs with the component sections of each pair in a common plane and with the outer ends of the cleats on the respective pairs registering with one another at the ends. of the blank, the outer end portions of said cleats being provided with apertures extending from their inner to their outer faces, endless binding Wires fixedly attached to the outer faces of said wall sections around the blank and disposed through said cleat end apertures, and said blank being unfoldable to bring the wall sections into right angular relation without placing said binding wires under tension and with the wall sections unfolding on pivotal axes which intersect said binding wires in all positions assumed by the wall sections.

17. In a wire bound crate or the like, a wall section comprising two spaced parallel side edge slats and a plurality of intermediate slats, transverse cleats across the ends. and mid-section of said slats, said cleats having their ends disposed iiush 'with the outer side edge of one of said side edge slats, the other side edge slat being disposed inwardly from the adjacent cleat ends a distance substantially equal to the width of the slat whereby to expose the end portions of the cleats, and said exposed cleat end portions being formed with slots extending transversely therethrough from inner to outer face and terminating in the outer face in advance of the adjacent slat a distance equal to the thickness of the slat, the bottom of each slot being inclined inwardly of the cleat end at an angle of or more with respect to the inner side face of the cleat and opening' to the end of the cleat, the slot bottom terminating in each cleat in its inner side face inwardly from its end a distance equal to the width of the cleat.

.18. In a wire bound crate or the like, four wall sections connected in hinged relation by endless flexible binding wires fixedly attached to their outer faces with the sections in folded blank form, and said sections being unfoldable to right angular relationship without dislocation of said binding wires and Without placing same under tension.

GUY RIDGE. 

